ATLANTA _ Nick Young posed with his hand in the air before the ball even fell through the hoop. His three-pointer with only 17.9 seconds left sealed the Los Angeles Lakers' first road win.
The Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks, 123-116, capping a four-game road trip and ending the Lakers' three-game losing streak. They'll return home to face the Golden State Warriors on Friday.
D'Angelo Russell led the team with 23 points, eight assists and four rebounds. He also had a career-high three blocked shots to help hand the Hawks their first loss in four games this season.
Fueled by Georgia native Lou Williams' 16 fourth-quarter points, the Lakers built a seven-point lead, but the Hawks quickly cut that lead to two. This time, though, the Lakers avoided the mistakes that plagued them in their first three road games.
When Williams made a three-pointer as the shot clock expired in the fourth quarter, the arena erupted as if he were home. The crowd often expressed dueling Lakers and Hawks chants.
If any energy was lacking in the first night of the Lakers' back-to-back games, it somehow returned on Wednesday, especially during an inspired second half.
The Lakers recovered from a 12-point deficit against the Hawks with the help of a 39-point third quarter. Where they made only one of 10 three-pointers in the first half, they made eight of 12 in the second half. Their defensive energy frustrated the Hawks.
Williams finished with 18 points while Young contributed 17. Jordan Clarkson had 16 points and Larry Nance Jr. added 14. Luol Deng finished with 13 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
The Lakers played without starting center Timofey Mozgov, who sustained two injuries to his face on Tuesday in Indianapolis. He missed most of the second half of the Lakers' 115-108 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Rookie Ivica Zubac started at center. He played 18 minutes and finished with six points on three-of-three shooting and three rebounds.
